IS HE A US CITIZEN? Nelson Castro, the Bronx state assemblyman at the center of NY’s latest political corruption scandal  got into office even though he had a record of criminal arrests in two states and had lied in court about voter registration fraud at his Bronx apartment.

BACKSTORY Bronx Democratic Party leaders anointed Castro-—a former staff member for State Sen. Adriano Espaillat, a Dominiocan Republic native; party bosses were eager to elect a young Dominican politician in the South Bronx, where the Dominican population was growing rapidly.

He was a candidate who had led a life of crime:

<><> a 1989 felony arrest in Michigan for larceny. Michigan court records show that 19-year old Castro pled guilty to a misdemeanor conspiracy and was sentenced to 180 days probation.

<><> In 2003, Castro was arrested again in New York, this time for grand larceny. He was accused of pocketing $4,900 in unemployment checks while holding a job. He pled guilty to petty larceny, repaid the money and was slapped with three years probation.

<><> Then in March 2008, Castro was arrested a third time  for driving in East Harlem with a revoked license and as a scofflaw who owed more than $3,000 in parking tickets.

Even more disturbing revelations followed.

<><> During the hearing before Special Referee Mary Lynn Dlabola, evidence emerged that 10 people registered to vote from Castro’s one-bedroom apt including Castro’s fiance, his cousin, his aunt and uncle, two relatives of his fiancée, and three people who were key figures in Nelson’s Castro campaign. Most had registered to vote only months before.

But Castro lied-—and testified that he had no idea all those people were registered there. Asked why so many people were claiming to live in the same tiny apartment, Castro’s lawyer claimed at one point that it was a “common practice in the Dominican community for families to take in relatives.”

ARE THE REGISTREES US CITIZENS? Unbelievably, Castro also told the court he “did not know” a man who was actually his coordinator of volunteers. That campaign coordinator was a votino scam artist, and had 15 other people registered to vote at his home address, as well.

The investigation led to a sealed indictment against Castro for perjury. To save himself-—he got wired-up and allowed to run again-—and be elected. (NY Daily News factoids.)